The Colorado Thunderbirds had nine players selected in the recent United States Hockey League draft, including four in the main pool that will likely play in North America’s premier junior-A league this coming season or 2011-12. The five T-Birds selected in the “Futures” draft are 1994 birthyears who will continue in the midget process at least through this coming season. All nine are considered NCAA material, a step most of them will probably make after playing at least one season in the USHL.

“This is a monumental day for the Thunderbirds and Colorado hockey in terms of player exposure and what our program is all about,” Thunderbirds director Angelo Ricci said in a release. “We truly believe in promoting our players to the next level. We want to wish all these players the best in the pursuit of their dreams to play Tier 1 junior A hockey and college hockey down the road.”

Five youth hockey organizations – Denver Country Day, Front Range, Littleton, the Colorado Thunderbirds and the U.S. Junior Development Program – helped shape Benitez into a future goalie for Tigers coach and former Colorado College alum Guy Gadowski.

Benitez attended three years of high school at Kent Denver before moving to South Burlington, Vermont, to attend Burlington High and play for the Green Mountain Glades of the Eastern Junior Hockey League. This past season he played for the New York Apple Core in Long Beach, Long Island, and led the league in most goaltending stats for much of the year.

After discussing his future with Princeton, Gadowski asked him to play another year of junior-A before becoming a Tiger in 2011. He’ll play for the Victoria Grizzlies of the British Columbia Hockey League next season.

“Princeton had long been a top choice of mine and I had written them several times,” Benitez told me. “In October they came to see me play and offered me a spot on their team the next week.”

He added: “Being able to attend a university and play a game that has been my life, in addition to have the opportunity to be educated at such an esteemed institution, is a dream come true.”

Benitez played squirt A and peewee AA for Front Range, then bantam AA for Littleton and bantam AAA, midget-minor AAA and midget-major AAA for the Thunderbirds. He often participated in the Colorado-based U.S. Junior Development Program.

“Ryan is an excellent hockey player, but better yet, he is an amazing young man,” said Mike Gempeler, director of the USJDP. “He was a joy to work with at the prep camp. He works so hard, listens so well, and is so coachable that he makes it very easy for you to want to help him in any way you can. He is very deserving of everything he has achieved and I am very excited to watch the next step in his life, and career, unfold.”

Rapids forward Conor Casey, the pride of Denver South High School, has helped put Colorado soccer on the map. Now he’s ready to handle questions from his fans.

Casey is the subject of the next installment of The Denver Post’s “Fan Mail” feature. If you have a question for Casey regarding the Rapids, the upcoming World Cup, his personal life, or soccer in general, send your question in an email to fanmail@denverpost.com. Please make sure and included your first name and where you are from.

There is certainly plenty to ask Casey. Last October he scored two goals at Honduras to help the U.S. clinch a World Cup bid. However, Casey was disappointed to be left off the 30-man provisional roster next month’s World Cup in South Africa.

Earlier this year, he signed a three-year deal with the Rapids. The 28-year-old had his most productive professional season in 2009, scoring a club record 16 goals, the second most in MLS. That earned him all-star honors and a spot on the MLS Best XI squad.

Casey starred at South High and was Soccer America’s freshman of the
year at the University of Portland before joining German powerhouse Borussia Dortmund in 2000. Intermittent success and multiple injuries led him to MLS, where he signed with Toronto FC and was quickly traded to Colorado in 2007.